Chiharu's Creative Corner

A post about the direction, dreams, an aspirations for my lolita wardrobe. I have a lot of things planned in the future as for lolita, but am also flying by the seat of my pants a bit. I think putting things into a list or even just this post is a good idea so I can come back and reflect or just remind myself of where I want to go and what I want to do with my collection. Resolutions resolutions resolutions.  A lot can change in a year- lives, tastes, pathways we walk, people we meet that influence us. Life is interesting like that though. We're always evolving as humans and with such we seem to always change what we want and feel we need. However... my resolutions never seem to change at least not by much.


1) OBTAIN AT LEAST TWO OF THE PRINT PIECES I REALLY LOVE.

I have a couple of these and while I know it seems almost showboat of me there are reasons I really love these dresses. To me it's not about popularity or anything of the such, as I know a good deal of them are indeed very "popular" by lolita standards. It's more of me loving the print itself. It's like art to me. If I could just have bought fabric of it I would make all the things!

2) FULLY CONSTRUCT A FEW OF THE DRESSES I HAVE DOODLED DESIGNS FOR!

It's almost an addiction for me that, ever since I first discovered what lolita was ten years ago, that I would doodle out designs for a "lolita" dress. Of course so many of them by today's standards would be considered "ita" to a lot of people: lace everywhere and large headdresses. That's what was popular back then. I've come up with some seriously cute ideas! Stay tuned for those. Angelic Pretty should seriously hire me.

3) SEW MY OWN BLOUSES, SKIRTS, AND DRESSES.

Lolita attire, in my opinion, is one of those things that are just so insanely prices that it boggles my mind. I've broken down the costs and so a, newly bought, brand dress generally has a "reasonable" price given costs, labor, materials and such. A garment, unless full of details, is just pretty fabric marked up due to a brand's name. To be honest I don't often find pieces I actually like! So I plan to start sewing my own. This way I can cut and style them better for my body and not run the risk of measurement A or B not fitting right on a bought item.

4) STREAMLINE MY WARDROBE WITH VERSATILE PIECES. 

My interests are too broad and I need to simplify my wardrobe. So shoes, accessories, etc all can be used within multiple outfits. Less clutter the better!

5) BUY  ONE "DREAM WISHLIST" ITEM.

Self explanatory actually.

6) MAKE MORE LOLITA FRIENDS!

Either local or, well, at least as close as Riverside, CA or something. I really would like more people to hang out with and enjoy kawaii dresses with.

7) WEAR A LOLITA CORD AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH.

I wore a grand total of four this year. It becomes my "I don't want to wear a cosplay, but I still want to look cute" default I fall back on.

8) CREATE VIDEOS SHOWING OF THE DETAIL OF OUTFITS I CONSTRUCT.

I've been doing this through pictures I post, but I want to also try and post videos on Youtube as much as I possibly can.

9) STOP BUYING THINGS JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE CUTE. 

I've got a huge problem with this. I love cute things. it's a weak spot for me! Instead of buying something just because it's cute I need to consider if it will even look good on me or fit right.

Goals are goals I've got to start somewhere!

Since Halloween is nearing quickly, I had this idea of a Halloween themed Majo Lolita coord that I wanted to try with the elements of kawaii and kowai, cute and creepy.

When magic and sorcery exist, a beautiful girl named Onyxia Winterrose, born into a line of witches with natural magic, a pure heart with an affinity of the elemental air and prone towards healing spells, has been jinxed with the curse of the black rose by her one true enemy. One day she's encountered with tainted black magic disguised as a single plucked black rose, the thorns shrouded in a brewed tonic from one witch to another that sets a deadly curse upon her to where her healing and protection spells are countered and utterly useless. The curse of the black rose is no joke. It means that a special, single black rose is given to a specific person. Then when the black rose withers and dies the ill-fated person's soul dies as well. The one cure to rid the curse, the moon stone. The moon stone is a powerful source that can cure anything, but the closest moon stone is found in one of the most dangerous places in the world and it only comes out every five hundred years. As the darkness speaks to her, it says that a witch's true power comes alive when she abandons all human feelings. It slowly seeps into her, corrupting her the from outside in, wanting to completely devour her soul and take over her body as a host.

The main tint of the entire outfit is white with accents of black and shades of grey. Her features fair like that of a porcelain doll. The right side of her face has a large sort of toothy almost Cheshire cat looking grin, round her eye is immensely bruised and severely scarred with inky shadows, and her pupil red while the right side is left alone.


The top is actually two nightclub dresses overlapping one another. The inside is a sequin cut-out light grey with a sheer arm from Cynde's Femme and a sparkly ivory white from Forever 21. The petticoat and skirt I made myself, the progress you can see here: LINK. Around my midsection are two belts overlapping; a light grey and a black both from Inpire. Covering my legs are two pairs of stockings overlapping; a pair of bold grey from Walmart and black fishnets from the Vampire Freaks online store. The boots are from a store in the Galleria Mall called Love Culture. The silver star pendant necklace is from Spencer's. The Wig is from Dolluxe in the Cosplay Wigs USA section. The witch hat, I bought last year from Claire's and applied some rose clip additions that I got at my local Rite Aid. The potion flask (It had liquid in it. Really it did. A special blend of Vodka from a good friend of mine.) and black rose bouquet were my props that came from Micheal's Arts & Crafts and Hot Topic. Makeup was done by yours truly that was inspired by this here video: , but the weather was warmer than expected and I could feel all that work slowly melting off my face. I have to admit that did screw up some places due to not being able to see without my glasses because I'm blind as a bat, but oh well. The photography work was done by my awesome boyfriend and edits to this photo were made by me. The location of this shoot was performed at Fairmount Park: Carousel Playground.

This was my first time ever hosting a Lolita and Oji (Gentleman) gathering with my good friend and fellow cosplayer, Killer J. This event took place the weekend after Anime Expo at Fairmount Park: Carousel Playground. A little therapy for the post-con blues. We would absolutely love to plan another one and we're more than happy to see this as a frequent thing for us. Not only was our cosplay community involved, but we happened to get some interested beginner Lolita to attend. Everyone was able to get a little photo session by by good cosplay friend and photographer, Belgain Du'Ran and Yume Photography.

We provided green tea or matcha the Japanese term, mini turkey/ham/P.B.&J sandwiches, and sweets that included Marshmallow macaroons, chocolate sandwich cookies, home-made chocolate with a hint of mint, Oreo cupcakes, and chocolate covered strawberry cupcakes. These delights all were pitched in by everyone who attended.

This is the beautiful Cherry Blossom and her lovely Sweet Kyandi (candy) Lolita cord. She's wearing is a hell bunny pin up and petticoat from Pin Up BOOtique located at the Ontario Mill's Mall, Southern California. Her accessories are a scrumptious lollipop necklace and earings that are from Claire's. Her kyandi parasol is from a Gothic shop located out in Redlands, California, the name is unknown. That cute macaroon pillow she's holding is from an online shop called Squishables.

This is the sharp and handsome, Gabriel. He's wearing a black polyester dress shirt with a pinstripe vest that came from his local thrift shop in Redlands, California as well as his silver clock face handle black cane. His tie was a gift. His black slacks and dress shoes with buckles are from Macy's. His Tungsten and skeleton Victorian profile ring came from Lolley Tea Time. His top hat came from Spirit Halloween Store.

This is the wonderful Imelda Shori and her Gothic Lolita cord. She's wearing a black/red dress and bows that she made herself. Her stockings are from a shop in downtown Los Angeles, the name unknown. Her shoes came from her local thrift store and were painted with an overcoat of black. Her pink wig was borrowed from a friend. Her cute and fluffy panda backpack is from one of the seller booths in exhibit hall at Anime Expo located at the Los Angeles convention center. 

This is the amazing Killer J and her Guro or grotesque Lolita cord. She's wearing a white ruffled blouse she bought at her local Goodwill that was stained with fake blood and a navy blue skirt she made herself. Her lace tights are from Forever 21 and her white flats are from Payless. Her parasol once belonged to her father, but was in terrible condition, so she mended it and added the lace and ribbons. She secured a blooded gauze to her eye.

Here is the villainous arch-type, Casual Cannibal. He's wearing a navy dress shirt from Big and Tall with a white blazer over it from Forever 21. His white gloves came from a Halloween super store with black finger less on top from Big 5. His eye patch came from his local 99 cents store. His dress shoes were previously his fathers which were purchased at a store out in Costa Rica, the name unknown.

This is the awesome Syra. She's wearing a 1900's era floral dress, frilly under blouse, with a white petticoat from her local thrift store.  Her white lace gloves are from Claire's and her black choker from Hot Topic. Her black leather belt and white shoes came from her local Goodwill.  Her wig came from a booth in the exhibit hall at Anime expo located at the Los Angeles convention center.  Her contacts are from a store in Los Angeles on Sunset Boulevard, the name unknown and the other at Chicago discount store. Her Japanese parasol was purchased at town festival.